HG Raghunath to step into Harish Bhat's shoes as COO of Titan Industries

BANGALORE: Harish Bhat, chief operating officer for watches at Titan Industries will step down from his position to take a sabbatical with effect from April 1 this year, a filing with the BSE says. Bhat will use his nine-month leave period to write a book on the Tata Group.

The watch division's chief manufacturing officer HG Raghunath will move into Bhat's position. Once Bhat returns he will join at a suitable position, a company official said.

The Bangalore-based company has also roped in LR Natarajan as chief operating officer of the business development function. Natrajan, who has been at the company since 2003, was the chief manufacturing officer of Titan's jewellery division Tanishq.

"We wanted to move all our new initiatives under one division. This will include our focus on accessory categories such as bags, belts and wallets, among others," S Subramaniam, chief financial officer of Titan Industries said.

Titan Industries stock closed at Rs 182.65 on the BSE, down 0.73% on Friday trading.